Good Riddance 2020 - Get Out of Here Already

New Year's Eve.  I wonder if they are having fireworks downtown?  I wonder if anyone is doing anything.  Our governor has the state locked down.  The news says that there is a new Covid Strain that is even more contagious.  More contagious, but no word on if it is really more dangerous.  Probably just more of the same let's keep the public scared BS and bunk that they keep spewing.  Our metro area has one person with the more contagious version.  A 20-year old that has not traveled out of the area.  I seriously doubt he has a different version.  I believe it is probably more of a scam so they can justify continued lockdowns.  I hope he is able to recover soon and without lasting effects. 

These lockdowns are killing the economy.  I tried hard to make sure my holiday shopping was done locally.  It wasn't easy.  The few mom and pop shops that were open had abbreviated hours.  10:00 to 5:00.  Can't go after work if they close so early. And when I went on the weekend the store was not busy and the inventory was not what it might normally have been.  I did make a purchase but still had to order from the mail order monopoly that we have all had to use this past year.  I don't know how businesses that do not have a robust web presence can survive.  Already many have just closed their doors and do not plan to open again.  

I buy take out from local restaurants, but I forget about most of the places I might normally go.  If they send me an email I try to put them on my list.  I cook at home more than I did before.  I am grateful that I replaced all of my large kitchen appliances before the virus hit.  I doubt that my original range and dishwasher could have kept up with the demand this year has put on them. 

My brother called to say he and some of the family had covid before Thanksgiving.  His family members are the only ones related to me who have had it.  I do know other people who have family members who have had it and one person who has had a family member pass because of it. The very few I know who have had it had very mild cases and have recovered quickly.  For those without co-morbidities, it seems more like a minor annoyance than a serious threat.  I will still exercise caution and look forward to the day this passes.  

I hope the lockdowns can end soon so people can go back to church, work, and school.  It seems more like political shenanigans than any actual health benefit. 

Even so, I wish you all a better, safer, and happier New Year!